Method and system for communication forwarding

ABSTRACT

A method and system are provided for enabling forwarding of communication requests directed by callers to callees. Forwarding-profile information, which may be used in forwarding of communication requests directed to a callee, may be received in a computerized central unit. The computerized central unit may then transfer forwarding information that is based on the forwarding-profile information, to a network server in a network in which the callee is a user and/or a subscriber, for enabling the network server to forward communication requests to the callee based on the forwarding information. The forwarding-profile information may comprise destination addresses for forwarding communication requests to the callee; categorizations of callers into caller groups; and/or forwarding-schemes for specifying how to forward communication requests from particular callers. The forwarding-schemes may specify for different communication technologies, whether a received communication request through each communication technology is forwarded to a destination address using a particular communication technology.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field oftelecommunications. Specifically, the present invention relates to amethod and a system for enabling forwarding of communication requestsdirected by callers to a callee who is a subscriber of a carrier networkand a user of an enterprise network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Companies typically maintain private enterprise networks, e.g. a privatebranch exchange (PBX), for providing a voice communication system withintheir premises. A subscriber can then establish a PBX call connectionwith another subscriber within the same PBX system without ever using apublic carrier network, e.g. a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)and/or a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN). Since no PSTN or PLMNservice is used in establishing the PBX call connection, no servicecharges would be levied against the PBX user by the public serviceprovider. In the same way, many companies operate other forms of privateenterprise networks, e.g. local area networks (LANs) for providingindependent data communication systems. Such LAN communication enablesmultiple users to communicate and access Internet, e-mail and databaseservers.

Both in private enterprise networks and in public carrier networks,various call forwarding services are currently available. For instance,calls from a selected set of numbers can be forwarded to a number of thesubscriber's choice. Other services automatically forward calls toanother number when the subscriber's line is busy.

US 2004/100575A2 describes a method and system for call forwarding in atelephony network. A subscriber of the telephony network specifiescaller groups which are stored as subscriber data in a home locationregister (HLR). When the subscriber connects to a mobile switchingcenter (MSC), the subscriber data in a visiting location register (VLR)associated with the MSC is updated with the subscriber data in the HLR.A call originating from a caller in a nominated caller group isconnected directly to the subscriber or the subscriber is notified ofthe incoming call. Connecting such a call to the subscriber may includedisconnecting a pre-existing call.

US 2005/0096029 describes a method of forwarding calls for a subscriberhaving a primary communication device and a plurality of alternatecommunication devices in a multimedia telecommunication network. Themethod comprises storing a call forwarding-profile for the subscriber'sprimary communication device at a network server. The callforwarding-profile specifies at least one of the alternate communicationdevices to which calls are to be forwarded, depending on whether theyinclude voice, video or data media, for example.

US 2003/0069030 describes a system, a method and an apparatus forproviding a subscriber feature supported by a private enterprise networkto a mobile subscriber travelling within a public carrier network.Outgoing call connection requests by the subscriber are forwarded overthe private enterprise network, even if the subscriber is roaming in thepublic carrier network. Such subscriber features include speed dialing,short dialing, corporate long distance services, conference calls, etc.

US 2001/0048738 describes a method and system for providing callforwarding in an IP telephone network based on call forwarding-profiles.The call forwarding is based on the type of callers, and one or moredestination addresses can be specified. The call is connected to a firstphone, if an active call forwarding-profile is not found. If an activecall forwarding-profile is found, the call is routed to at least a thirdtelephone based on the call forwarding-profile. The method and systemdescribed in US 2001/0048738 are limited to a single IP telephonenetwork.

EP2048863 A1 describes a telecommunication system which routes aninbound telephone communication through an enterprise communicationnetwork. The communication is routed to a first user, and if the firstuser does not answer, the communication is routed to a second user,based on predetermined user profile information. Communications requestscan only be forwarded to a user, if the user is connected to theenterprise communication network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a method and a system forenabling the forwarding of communication requests directed by callers toa callee who is a subscriber of a carrier network and a user of anenterprise network. In particular, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a method and a system for enabling the forwardingof the communication requests for a callee who is moving between thecarrier network and the enterprise network.

A caller is an initiator or sender of a communication request, i.e. acalling party, user or subscriber; whereas a callee is the addressee orrecipient of the communication request, i.e. the called party, user orsubscriber.

A caller may initiate a communication request using different types ofcommunication technologies, such as voice phone call, video phone call,SMS (Short Message Services), e-mail (electronic mail), IMS (InstantMessaging Services) or Social Networks.

According to the present invention, these objects are achieved throughthe features of the independent claims. In addition, furtheradvantageous embodiments follow from the dependent claims and thedescription.

According to the present invention, the above mentioned objects areparticularly achieved in that for enabling forwarding of communicationrequests directed by callers to a callee, who is both, a subscriber of acarrier network and a user of an enterprise network, a central unitreceives forwarding-profile information which defines the forwarding ofcommunication requests directed to the callee by the callers. Thecentral unit stores forwarding-profiles which are defined by theforwarding-profile information and are assigned to the callee. Thecentral unit transfers forwarding information to a network server in thecarrier network and/or a network server in the enterprise network forenabling the network server in the carrier network and the networkserver in the enterprise network to forward the communication requestsbased on forwarding-profiles assigned to the callee. Thus,forwarding-profile information can be captured and maintained in onecentral location for generating and storing consistent forwardinginformation for a plurality of separate communication networks which areoperated and managed independently form each other by different entitieswith regards to technical platforms and organization.

In one embodiment, the forwarding information includes forwardinginstructions instructing the network servers how to forward thecommunication requests, in another embodiment the forwarding informationincludes forwarding-profile information enabling the network servers toestablish and maintain local forwarding-profiles.

In a preferred embodiment, the central unit provides a user interfaceand receives through a telecommunication network via the user interfacethe forwarding-profile information entered by the callee. Theforwarding-profile information is stored at the central unit anddisplayed via the user interface. Thus, the user of the enterprisenetwork, who is also a subscriber to the carrier network, is providedwith a single user interface to manage concurrently the forwarding ofcommunication requests in the enterprise network and the carriernetwork.

In another preferred embodiment, the central unit receives via the userinterface a selection by the callee of an active forwarding-profile froma plurality of forwarding-profiles associated with the callee, andtransfers the callee's selection of the active forwarding-profile to atleast one network server in the carrier network and at least one networkserver in the enterprise network for enabling the network server in thecarrier network and the network server in the enterprise network toforward the communication requests based on the activeforwarding-profile of the callee. Thus, the user is provided with anefficient mechanism to switch dynamically between several storedforwarding-profiles, and the user can select an activeforwarding-profile according to his needs, e.g. depending on his currentstate, availability and/or location.

In another embodiment, the forwarding-profiles of the callee in thecarrier network and in the enterprise network are synchronized byreceiving at the central unit altered forwarding-profile informationfrom the network server in the carrier network and from the networkserver in the enterprise network. The altered forwarding-profileinformation is transferred from the central unit to the network serverin the carrier network or the network server in the enterprise network,respectively. Accordingly, consistency and data integrity of thecallee's forwarding-profiles are maintained automatically in both thecarrier network and the enterprise network, in case there are localchanges to the forwarding-profiles originating from within the carriernetwork or the enterprise network, respectively, e.g. as a result ofmanipulations by the operator of the carrier network or the enterprisenetwork, respectively.

In another embodiment, receiving the forwarding-profile information inthe central unit comprises receiving categorizations of callers intocaller groups, receiving destination addresses for forwardingcommunication requests directed to the callee, and receivingforwarding-schemes which specify for the caller groups whether acommunication request is forwarded to one or more of the destinationaddresses. Thus, the callee may specify for various caller groupsdifferent destination addresses.

In another preferred embodiment, receiving the forwarding-profileinformation in the central unit comprises receiving forwarding-schemeswhich specify for different communication technologies, e.g. voice phonecall, video phone call, SMS (Short Messaging Services), e-mail(electronic mail), Social Networks and/or instant messaging services(IMS), whether a communication request received through one of thesetechnologies is forwarded to one or more destination addresses using acommunication technology specified by the forwarding-scheme. Thus, theuser is enabled to manage all his incoming communication using a singleservice which configures forwarding settings in the carrier network andthe enterprise network at the same time. In particular, variouscombinations of communication forwarding depending on and usingdifferent communication technologies become possible. Moreover, it is afurther advantage of the present invention that communicationtechnologies may be specified for the individual caller groups.

In another embodiment, the forwarding-profile information enables atleast one network server in the carrier network and at least one networkserver in the enterprise network to determine for communication requestsin each case the caller group and the communication technologyassociated with the respective communication request. Moreover, theforwarding-profile information enables the network servers to determinea forwarding-scheme defined by an active forwarding-profile selected bythe callee, and to forward the communication request from a calleraccording to the forwarding-scheme defined by the activeforwarding-profile to one or more destination addresses using thecommunication technology specified by the forwarding-scheme.

In addition to a method and a computer system for enabling theforwarding of communication requests directed by callers to a callee,who is a subscriber of a carrier network and a user of an enterprisenetwork, the present invention also relates to a computer programproduct comprising computer program code, preferably computer programproducts comprising a tangible computer-readable medium having storedthereon the computer program code. The computer program code directs oneor more processors of a computerized central unit, such that the centralunit receives forwarding-profile information which defines forwarding ofcommunication requests directed by callers to a callee, who is asubscriber of a carrier network and a user of an enterprise network.Furthermore, the computer program code directs the one or moreprocessors of the central unit such that the central unit generates andstores forwarding-profiles defined by the forwarding-profile informationand assigned to the callee. The computer program code also directs theone or more processors of the central unit such that the central unittransfers forwarding information to a network server in the carriernetwork and/or a network server in the enterprise network for enablingthe network server in the carrier network and the network server in theenterprise network to forward the communication requests based onforwarding-profiles assigned to the callee.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be explained in more detail, by way ofexample, with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram illustrating schematically a system forforwarding of communication requests directed by callers to callees whoare subscribers of the carrier network and users of the enterprisenetwork, based on forwarding-profile information managed by a centralunit.

FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram illustrating an example of a sequence ofsteps for setting up and managing forwarding-profile information forenabling the forwarding of communication requests directed by callers tocallees who are subscribers of the carrier network and users of theenterprise network.

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram illustrating another example of a sequenceof steps for setting up and managing forwarding-profile information forenabling the forwarding of communication requests directed by callers tocallees who are subscribers of the carrier network and users of theenterprise network

FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram illustrating another example of a sequenceof steps for enabling the forwarding of communication requests based onthe forwarding-profile information.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show different aspects of an exemplary embodiment of auser interface provided by the central unit to callees for setting upand managing the forwarding-profile information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 refers to a system for communicationforwarding between two networks using centrally managedforwarding-profiles. The system comprises a computerized central unit 2,a network server 41 in a public carrier network 4 and a network server51 in a private enterprise network 5. The central unit 2, the publiccarrier network 4 and the private enterprise network 5 are connectedwith each other, e.g. via direct communication links or atelecommunication network 8, e.g. a telecommunication network 8comprising another carrier network operated by another telecommunicationprovider and/or the Internet.

Preferably, the carrier network 4 is a Public Switched Telephone Network(PSTN) comprising a fixed line communication network and/or a mobileradio communication network. In another preferred embodiment, thecarrier network 4 comprises an Intelligent Network (IN) based on theSignaling System No. 7 (SS7) protocol or another IP-based signalingprotocol. In yet another embodiment, the carrier network 4 is a networkbased on the Internet Protocol (IP). One or more communication terminals3, 3′ are connected to the network server 41 via the carrier network 4.The network server 41 is configured to forward communication requestsfrom and to the communication terminals 3, 3′.

The enterprise network 5 is preferably a private branch exchange (PBX)network, a local area network (LAN) or a combination of both.Alternatively, the enterprise network 5 may comprise several (logical)data networks. Moreover, the enterprise network 5 may comprise a fixedline communication network and/or a mobile radio communication network.One or more communication terminals 6, 6′ are connected to the networkserver 51 via the enterprise network 5. The network server 51 isconfigured to forward communication requests from and to thecommunication terminals 6, 6′. For example, the network server 51 is anenterprise real-time communication server such as an OfficeCommunication Server (OCS), which provides an infrastructure for, e.g.voice and video calling, instant messaging and/or file transfer, withinthe premises of the enterprise. Preferably, access to the enterprisenetwork 5 is secured by means of a firewall, for example.

The communication terminals 3, 3′, 6, 6′, 9, 9′ include but are notlimited to fixed or mobile telephones, automatic recording devices suchas answering machines, fixed or mobile personal computers, and personaldata assistants for data communication, voice communication and/or Voiceover IP (VoIP) communication. For example, the communication terminals3, 3′, 6, 6′, 9, 9′ include conventional wired handsets, mobile radiophones or mobile computers with a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network), orother communication modules for mobile communication, compliant tostandards such as GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication), UMTS(Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) or DECT (Digital EnhancedCordless Telecommunications).

The central unit 2 includes an operational computer with one or moreprocessors. Furthermore, the central unit 2 includes several functionalmodules, including a user interface module 21, a receiving module 22, atransferring module 23 and a profile management module 24. The userinterface module 21 provides a user interface 100 for display, input andmanipulation of forwarding-profile information. The user interface 100includes e.g. a web interface which is configured to exchangeforwarding-profile information through a telecommunication network, e.g.the internet, or a direct communication link with the central unit 2.Moreover, the user interface 100 may comprise a user interface forsystem administrators which have special rights to manipulate datastored at the central unit 2. The central unit 2 further includes a datastore 25 e.g. a memory subsystem which comprises a data base system oranother system for efficient storage of user data, for example.

In alternative embodiments of the present invention, which are notillustrated in FIG. 1, the central unit 2 is hosted either by thenetwork server 41 in the carrier network 4 or by the network server 51in the enterprise network 5. In further embodiments of the presentinvention, the central unit 2 is hosted by a computer system connectedto the network server 41 or network server 51, the computer system beinglocated in the carrier network 4 or the enterprise network 5,respectively.

The network server 41 in the carrier network 4 includes an operationalcomputer with one or more processors. Furthermore, the network server 41includes various functional modules, including a communication interface412 and a forwarding module 411. The communication interface 412 isconfigured to communicate via a telecommunication network 8 or a directcommunication link with the central unit 2. The network server 41further includes a data store 413, e.g. a memory subsystem, whichincludes a data base system or another system for efficient storage ofuser data, for example.

The network server 51 in the enterprise network 5 includes anoperational computer with one or more processors. Furthermore, thenetwork server 51 includes various functional modules, including acommunication interface 512 and a forwarding module 311. Thecommunication interface 512 is configured to communicate via atelecommunication network 8 or a direct communication link with thecentral unit 2. The network server 51 further includes a data store 513,e.g. a memory subsystem, which includes a data base system or anothersystem for efficient storage of user data, for example.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the communicationinterfaces 412 and 512 are further configured to establish acommunication channel between the network servers 41 and 51, e.g. via atelecommunication network 8 or a direct communication link.

Preferably, the functional modules are implemented as programmedsoftware modules comprising computer program code for directing aprocessor of a computer to perform functions as described later in moredetail. The computer program code is stored on a tangiblecomputer-readable medium which is connected fixed or removably in therespective computer. One skilled in art will understand, however, thatin alternative embodiments the functional modules may be implementedfully or at least partly by way of hardware components.

In the following paragraphs, described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4are possible sequences of steps performed by the functional modules forsetting up and managing callee-specific forwarding-profiles to enablethe forwarding of communication requests submitted by callers to acallee, who is a subscriber of the carrier network 4 and a user of theenterprise network 5. To be a user of the enterprise network 5, a calleeis setup and stored with assigned access rights and authorizationcredentials in a user database of the enterprise network 5. Likewise thecallee is setup and stored with assigned subscription and subscriberdata in a subscriber database of the carrier network 4. In the carriernetwork 5, at least some of the subscription and subscriber data isreplicated in a home location register (HLR), a home subscriber services(HSS) database and/or in visitor location registers (VLR) of othercarrier networks.

The callee uses communication terminals 3, 3′, 6, 6′ located or roamingin the carrier network 4 or in the enterprise network 5. Depending onthe type of network and communication terminal 9, 9′, the callee mayalso roam into other communication networks 8 where he is registeredtemporarily in a VLR, for example, and has his location reported to anHLR in the carrier network 4.

As will be explained below in more detail, communication requestssubmitted by callers to a callee are forwarded based on centrallymanaged forwarding-profile information, particularly for forwardingdata, including voice data, specifically VoIP data, or other data, e.g.e-mail data, SMS (Short Messaging Services) data, Instant MessagingServices (IMS) data, voice mail data or any other user data. Thefollowing paragraphs differentiate between a caller, i.e. a person usinga communication terminal 3, 3′, 6, 6′, 9, 9′ to initiate a (originating)communication request and a callee, i.e. a person using a communicationterminal 3, 3′, 6, 6′, 9, 9′ to which said communication request isdirected.

In an embodiment, forwarding is limited to communication requests fromcommunication terminals 3, 3′ roaming in the carrier network 4 tocommunication terminals 6, 6′ roaming in the enterprise network 5 andvice versa. It should also be noted that in some cases communicationterminals 3, 3′, 6, 6′ can also be connected to both the carrier network4 and the enterprise network 5.

In step S1, the callee or an authorized person specifies new or alteredforwarding-profile information via the user interface 100. The userinterface 100 and thus the central unit 2 is accessed by the user on acommunication terminal 3, 3′, 6, 6′, 9, 9′ in the enterprise network 5,the carrier network 4, or another telecommunications network 8.

The forwarding-profile information is associated with and assigned tothe callee, and includes caller group information and the actualforwarding-profiles. Table 1 illustrates an exemplary data structure forthe specification of caller groups: for a callee, possible callers arecategorized in caller groups, wherein a caller group is specified by agroup name and a plurality of caller addresses. The caller addressesinclude, e.g. telephone numbers, e-mail addresses or instant messaginguser names.

TABLE 1 Caller Group Callee Group Name Caller Address

Still in step S1, the callee or an authorized person specifies new oraltered forwarding-profiles associated with and assigned to the calleeby defining, entering and/or altering respective forwarding-profileinformation via the user interface 100.

Table 2 illustrates an exemplary data structure for the specification offorwarding-profiles: for a callee, a forwarding-profile is specified bya profile name and a list of forwarding-schemes. As will be explainedlater in more detail, a callee may define more than oneforwarding-profile, but only one forwarding-profile will be active, andcommunication forwarding will be derived from the activeforwarding-profile. A forwarding-scheme specifies for a caller group andan incoming communication technology an outgoing communicationtechnology as well as a destination address. The destination addressesinclude e.g. telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and/or instantmessaging user names. If no destination address is specified, thecommunication request is blocked, i.e. not forwarded. On one hand, theincoming communication technology denotes the communication technology,e.g. phone call (voice), SMS, e-mail or instant messaging services,according to the communication request made by the caller. For instance,a caller sends a communication request to establish a phone call withthe callee. On the other hand, the outgoing communication technologydenotes the communication technology which is actually used to forwardthe communication request according to the forwarding-scheme. If, forinstance, a caller originates a communication request in the form of atelephone call to the callee, the callee may specify, with the help of afirst forwarding-scheme, to forward the communication request to ananswering machine. In addition, with the help of a secondforwarding-scheme, the callee may define to forward the communicationrequest in the form of an SMS notification to his mobile phone.

TABLE 2 Forwarding-Profile Forwarding-Scheme Callee Profile CallerIncoming Outgoing Destination Name Group Communica- Communica- Addresstion tion Technology Technology

In step S2, the forwarding-profile information is transmitted from theuser interface 100 through a telecommunication network 8 or a directcommunication link to the central unit 2 where it is received by thereceiving module 22.

In step S3, the receiving module 22 of the central unit 2 stores theforwarding-profile information in the data store 25 of the central unit2. In addition, the profile management module 24 generates and storesforwarding-profiles assigned to the callee defined by theforwarding-profile information received in step S2 and/or previouslystored in the data store 25 at the central unit 2. Theforwarding-profiles are stored by the profile management module 24 inthe data store 25 of the central unit 2.

From now on, all forwarding decisions will be directly or indirectlybased on the forwarding-profile information stored at the central unit2. As will be described with regard to the steps in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3,forwarding-profile information is transferred as forwarding informationto the network servers 41, 51. The forwarding-profile information isthen stored in the network servers 41, 51, synchronized with theforwarding-profile information stored in the central unit 2 andevaluated by the network server 41, 51 for each communication request.

As will be described with regard to the steps in FIG. 4, communicationrequests may also be forwarded to the central unit 2, evaluated by thecentral unit 2 based on forwarding-profile information stored at thecentral unit 2 and forwarding information in form of explicit forwardinginstructions is transferred back the network servers 41, 51. In thisembodiment, the network servers 41, 51 simply execute the forwardinginstructions generated by the central unit 2.

Still in FIG. 2, in steps S4 and S6, the transferring module 23 of thecentral unit 2 transfers the forwarding-profile information to thenetwork server 41 in the carrier network 4 and to the network server 51in the enterprise network 5, where it is received by the communicationinterface 412 and the communication interface 512, respectively.

In steps S5 and S7, the forwarding-profile information is received andstored in the data stores 413 and 513 of the respective network servers41, 51.

In step S8, the forwarding-profile information is displayed via the userinterface 100. If the callee or another authorized person selects anactive forwarding-profile from the plurality of forwarding-profilesdisplayed by the user interface 100, the selection is displayed by theuser interface 100.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the activeforwarding-profile is determined automatically by the central unit 2based on rules specified by the forwarding-profile information. Suchrules include but are not limited to time-dependent rules and/orlocation-dependent rules. For the case of time-dependent rules, theactive forwarding-profile is selected automatically in dependency of thecurrent time (e.g. working hours of the callee, weekdays or week-ends,etc.). For the case of location-dependent rules, the current location ofthe callee is used to determine the active forwarding-profile. Using theGlobal Positioning System (GPS), the position of the callee is mapped,e.g. to his home or working address, and an active forwarding-profile isselected accordingly, i.e. the active forwarding-profile is selectedbased on the current location of the callee, which is periodicallyretrieved by the central unit 2 or reported by the networks servers 41,51 to the central unit 2, for example. Furthermore, in an embodiment,the active forwarding-profile is selected depending on whether thecommunication terminal 3, 3′, 6, 6′, 9, 9′ is connected to the carriernetwork 4, the enterprise network 5 or both networks, or, if applicableto telecommunication network 8. In a further embodiment, the activeforwarding-profile is selected depending on status information wherebythe current status is defined manually by the callee and/orautomatically, e.g. by the network servers 41, 51.

In step S9, the selection of the active forwarding-profile istransmitted to the central unit 2 where it is received by the receivingmodule 22.

In step S10, the receiving module 22 stores the selection of the activeforwarding-profile in the data store 25.

Subsequently, in steps S11 and S13, the selection of the activeforwarding-profile is transmitted by the transferring module 23 of thecentral unit 2 to the to the network server 41 in the carrier network 4and to the network server 51 in the enterprise network 5, where it isreceived by the communication interface 412 and the communicationinterface 512, respectively.

In steps S12 and S14, the communication interfaces 412 and 512 of thenetwork servers receive the selection of the active forwarding-profileand store the respective data in the data stores 413 and 513,respectively.

Subsequently, the forwarding modules 411 and 511 perform the actualcommunication forwarding according to the forwarding-profileinformation: the forwarding modules determine for each communicationrequest from a communication terminal 3, 3′, 6, 6′, 9, 9′ the callergroup and incoming communication technology associated with therespective communication request. Furthermore, the forwarding modules411 and 511 determine the forwarding-scheme defined by the currentlyactive forwarding-profile and forward the communication request from thecaller to one or more destination addresses as defined by theforwarding-profile. The communication request is forwarded using theoutgoing communication technology specified by the forwarding-scheme. Ifa communication request from a communication terminal 3, 3′, 9, 9′ inthe carrier network 4 or the telecommunication network 8, respectively,is directed to a communication terminal 6, 6′ in the enterprise network5, the forwarding is executed, e.g. via the telecommunication network 8or the direct communication link between the carrier network 4 and theenterprise network 5. In another embodiment of the present invention,the forwarding is further executed via the forwarding modules 411 and511 of the network servers. The same holds for communication requestsfrom communication terminals 6, 6′ in the enterprise network 5 directedto communication terminals 3, 3′, 9, 9′ in the carrier network 4 or thetelecommunication network 8, respectively.

In FIG. 3, steps S15 to S30 illustrate a sequence of steps forsynchronizing the forwarding-profile information in the central unit 2and the network servers 41 and 51. For example, after theforwarding-profile information is received from the callee, in step S15,transmitted to the central unit 2, in step S16, and used to update theforwarding-profile information stored in the data store 25, in step S17,the profile management module 24 initiates (in pull mode)synchronization of the received forwarding-profile information with theforwarding-profile information stored in the data stores 413, 513 of thenetwork servers 41 and 51.

Accordingly, in steps S18 and S21, in addition to the forwarding-profileinformation, the central unit 2 transfers a request to receive updatesof local changes of forwarding-profile information from the networkservers 41 and 51, respectively. Updates of the forwarding-profileinformation include local changes of the caller addresses in the callergroups or the destination addresses in the forwarding-profiles, e.g.changed telephone numbers of subscribers or new subscribers of therespective network.

In steps S19 and S22, the network servers 41 and 51 identify updates oflocal changes to the forwarding-profile information, i.e. changes thatoccurred locally in the network servers 41 and 51 since the time of thelast synchronization request, and synchronize the forwarding-profileinformation received from the central unit 2 with the local changes,before updating the forwarding-profile information stored in the localdata store 413 and 513, respectively, with the forwarding-profileinformation received from the central unit 2.

In steps S20 and S23, the requested updates with local changes of theforwarding-profile information are transmitted from the network servers41 and 51 back to the central unit 2.

In step S24, the receiving module 22 of the central unit 2 receives theupdates of forward-profile information from network servers 41 and 51and the profile management module 24 synchronizes the forwarding-profileinformation stored in data store 25 with the local changes of theforwarding-profile information in the network servers 41 and 51.

Subsequently, in steps S25 and S27, the transferring module 23 of thecentral unit 2 transfers the synchronized forwarding-profile informationto the network server 41 in the carrier network 4 and to the networkserver 51 in the enterprise network 5, where it is received by thecommunication interface 412 and the communication interface 512,respectively.

In steps S26 and S28, the forwarding-profile information is received andstored in the data stores 413 and 513 of the respective network servers41, 51.

In step S29, the synchronized forwarding-profile information istransmitted to the user interface 100 and displayed in step S30 by theuser interface 100.

In alternative embodiments, the synchronization of forwarding-profileinformation described in steps S15 to S30 is performed in a differentorder. Specifically, in a preferred embodiment, the updates of theforwarding-profile information are initiated by the network servers 41and 51, i.e. the central unit 2 is not required to send a request toreceive updates of forwarding-profile information from to the networkservers 41 and 51, but the network servers 41 and 51 report proactively,i.e. in push mode, any local changes of the forwarding-profileinformation to the central unit 2.

In a further embodiment, the synchronization of forwarding-profileinformation is exclusively performed at the central unit 2, i.e. thenetwork servers 41 and 51 are just receiving and transmittingforwarding-profile information and do not perform synchronization tasks.

In yet another preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in FIG. 4, theforwarding decisions are completely performed by the central unit 2. Instep S31, a communication request arrives at network server 41. Next,the communication request or data associated with the communicationrequest is forwarded to the central unit 2 in step S32. In step S33, thecommunication request is evaluated in the central unit 2 using thestored forwarding-profile information of the active forwarding-profileassigned to the callee. In other words, the central unit 2 determinesthe caller group and incoming communication technology associated withthe respective communication request, and determines one or moredestination addresses and outgoing communication technologies accordingto the currently active forwarding-profile. In step S34, forwardinginformation including one or more destination addresses and outgoingcommunication technologies is transferred from the central unit 2 to thecommunication interface 412 of the network server 41. In step S35, theactual forwarding of the communication request is performed by theforwarding module 411 of network server 41 according to the receivedforwarding information.

In a similar way, a communication request arriving at network server 51in the enterprise network 5 is handled in steps S36 to S40. Again, therouting intelligence completely resides in the central unit 2 and thenetwork server 51 just carries out the instructions received by thecentral unit 2.

Note that the specification of forwarding-profile information via theuser interface 100 and the synchronization of forwarding-profileinformation are not depicted in FIG. 4. As described above, thesynchronization of forwarding-profile information may be achieved inpull mode (as described with reference to steps S15 to S30 in FIG. 3) orin push mode.

It should be mentioned that in an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention, it is sufficient to transfer forwarding information to eitherthe network server 41 or the network server 51. The forwardinginformation is then synchronized directly between the network servers 41and 51, or, alternatively, the forwarding information is embedded in theforwarded communication, e.g., for the case of packetized networks.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary implementation of the user interface100. In the illustrated example, the forwarding-profile information istailored to the needs of a callee which is an employee of a company. Inthis example, it is assumed that said company is operating theenterprise network 5. FIG. 5 displays a list of storedforwarding-profiles, named “Office”, “Busy”, “Leisure” and “Vacation”.An active forwarding-profile is selectable using the radio buttons 101.In the example of FIG. 5, the forwarding-profile “Office” is the activeforwarding-profile. Using buttons 102, the callee can modify orconfigure existing forwarding-profiles as well as create and name newforwarding-profiles.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary view of the user interface 100 where thecallee has to categorize his contacts, i.e. possible callers, intocaller groups. The example comprises four caller groups named “Private”,“Company”, “VIP” and “Customer”. It is assumed that the callee cancreate and name new caller groups, and insert new callers in the list ofcallers, both manually and by importing user information from thenetwork servers 41 and 51. With the help of the checkboxes 103, callerscan be assigned to caller groups. By pressing the apply-button 104, thecaller groups are activated and used to forward communication requests.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, callers which are notexplicitly associated with one of the specified caller groups areassociated by default with a group called “Unknown”. In yet anotherembodiment of the present invention, callers which are not explicitlyassociated with one of the specified caller groups are associated withone of the specified caller groups, e.g. “Customer” in the abovementioned example.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of specifying forwarding-schemes via theuser interface 100. For each forwarding-profile and each caller groupand each incoming communication technology, a destination address withassociated outgoing communication technology can be specified. In thisexample, the forwarding-schemes for the business phone, the mobile phoneand the callee's e-mail can be selected using the drop-down list 105.

For the business phone of the callee, the forwarding-scheme can be setto e.g. forwarding a telephone call to an answering machine, forwardinga telephone call to a certain destination address (i.e. one or moretelephone numbers), send an SMS notification to a certain destinationaddress, or directly forward the telephone call to the business phone ofthe callee. If in a forwarding-scheme no destination address isspecified by the callee, communication requests, e.g. from a certaincaller group, are blocked and not forwarded. In this example, theforwarding of SMS and Instant Messaging is enabled/disabled using thebuttons 106. By pressing the apply-button 107, the forwarding-schemesare activated and used to forward communication requests.

It should be noted that, in the description, the computer program codehas been associated with specific function modules and the sequence ofthe steps has been presented in a specific order, one skilled in the artwill understand, however, that the computer program code may bestructured differently and that the order of at least some of the stepscould be altered, without deviating from the scope of the invention.

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A method, comprising: receiving in a central unit,forwarding-profile information for use in forwarding of communicationrequests directed to a callee, wherein: the forwarding-profileinformation comprises one or more forwarding-schemes which specify fordifferent communication technologies, whether a communication requestreceived through one of the communication technologies is forwarded toone or more destination addresses using a particular communicationtechnology; and transferring by the central unit, forwarding informationthat is based on the forwarding-profile information, to a network serverin a network in which the callee is a user and/or a subscriber, forenabling the network server to forward communication requests to thecallee based on the forwarding information.
 17. The method of claim 16,wherein the forwarding-profile information comprises destinationaddresses for forwarding communication requests to the callee;categorizations of callers into caller groups; and/or forwarding-schemesfor specifying how to forward communication requests from particularcallers.
 18. The method of claim 16, comprising receiving in the centralunit via a telecommunication network, the forwarding-profile informationthat is entered by the callee via a user interface provided by thecentral unit.
 19. The method of claim 18, comprising displaying via theuser interface the forwarding-profile information.
 20. The method ofclaim 18, comprising receiving by the central unit via the userinterface a selection by the callee of an active forwarding-profile froma plurality of forwarding-profiles associated with the callee.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, comprising transferring by the central unit thecallee's selection of the active forwarding-profile to at least thenetwork server, for enabling the network server to forward communicationrequests to the callee.
 22. The method of claim 16, comprisingsynchronizing forwarding-profiles of the callee in a plurality ofnetworks in which the callee is a user and/or a subscriber, by:receiving in the central unit altered forwarding-profile informationfrom a network server of one of the plurality of networks; andtransferring the altered forwarding-profile information from the centralunit to network servers in one or more of remaining ones of theplurality of networks.
 23. The method of claim 16, wherein theforwarding information enables the network server in the network todetermine for each communication request a caller group andcommunication technology associated with the respective communicationrequest.
 24. The method of claim 16, wherein the forwarding informationenables the network server in the network to determine for eachcommunication request a forwarding-scheme defined by an activeforwarding-profile selected by the callee.
 25. The method of claim 16,wherein the forwarding information enables the network server in thenetwork to forward communication requests according to forwarding-schemedefined by active forwarding-profiles to one or more destinationaddresses using a communication technology specified by a correspondingforwarding-scheme.
 26. A system, comprising: a central unit having oneor more processor, the central unit being operable to: receiveforwarding-profile information for use in forwarding of communicationrequests directed to a callee, wherein: the forwarding-profileinformation comprises one or more forwarding-schemes which specify fordifferent communication technologies, whether a communication requestreceived through one of the communication technologies is forwarded toone or more destination addresses using a particular communicationtechnology; and transfer forwarding information that is based on theforwarding-profile information, to a network server in a network inwhich the callee is a user and/or a subscriber, for enabling the networkserver to forward communication requests to the callee based on theforwarding information.
 27. The system of claim 26, wherein theforwarding-profile information comprises destination addresses forforwarding communication requests to the callee; categorizations ofcallers into caller groups; and/or forwarding-schemes for specifying howto forward communication requests from particular callers.
 28. Thesystem of claim 26, wherein the central unit is operable to receive viaa telecommunication network, the forwarding-profile information that isentered by the callee via a user interface provided by the central unit.29. The system of claim 28, wherein the central unit is operable todisplay via the user interface the forwarding-profile information. 30.The system of claim 28, wherein the central unit is operable to receivevia the user interface a selection by the callee of an activeforwarding-profile from a plurality of forwarding-profiles associatedwith the callee.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the central unit isoperable to transfer the callee's selection of the activeforwarding-profile to at least the network server, for enabling thenetwork server to forward communication requests to the callee.
 32. Thesystem of claim 26, wherein the central unit is operable to synchronizeforwarding-profiles of the callee in a plurality of networks in whichthe callee is a user and/or a subscriber, by: receiving in the centralunit altered forwarding-profile information from a network server of oneof the plurality of networks; and transferring the alteredforwarding-profile information from the central unit to network serversin one or more of remaining ones of the plurality of networks.
 33. Thesystem of claim 26, wherein the forwarding information enables thenetwork server in the network to determine for each communicationrequest a caller group and communication technology associated with therespective communication request.
 34. The system of claim 26, whereinthe forwarding information enables the network server in the network todetermine for each communication request a forwarding-scheme defined byan active forwarding-profile selected by the callee.
 35. The system ofclaim 26, wherein the forwarding information enables the network serverin the network to forward communication requests according toforwarding-scheme defined by active forwarding-profiles to one or moredestination addresses using a communication technology specified by acorresponding forwarding-scheme.